Chile's Chaiten volcano under red alert

CNN Story:

Santiago, Chile (CNN) -- Chile's Chaiten volcano has been placed under red alert due to an increase in seismic activity for three weeks, the Chilean government said.

The volcano in southern Chile became active in May 2008 after being dormant for more than 9,000 years.

Volcanic activity was on the decline in the past few months until picking back up January 21, the Chilean Interior Ministry said in a news release Monday.

The red alert, which indicates activity is above normal levels and an eruption could be imminent, was enacted in large part to protect tourists in the area, said Carmen Fernandez, director of Chile's National Emergency Office.

Underground seismic rumblings 1.2 to 5 miles (2 to 8 kilometers) deep in the area around the volcano and constant gas eruptions in the dome indicate "a high grade of instability," the National Emergency Office said.

So another active volcano might go up in flames eh?

Any volcano experts wanna make a prediction to when this thing could blow?

~Keeper

Next week. God bless Chile.

Actually if Chaiten goes up in a major way, we will all need blessings. It's a very dangerous volcano. This guy's excellent blog has some stunning pictures and he's been following it for a while. Definitely worth a read.

www.seablogger.com...

iv started a thread to cover all new and old volcanic ativity for 2010 see my thread . thanks


www.abovetopsecret.com...

and thanks forletting us know ...

Originally posted by caitlinfae
Actually if Chaiten goes up in a major way, we will all need blessings. It's a very dangerous volcano. This guy's excellent blog has some stunning pictures and he's been following it for a while. Definitely worth a read.

www.seablogger.com...

Not unless you live there.

It would probably be a vei 5( or less) it looks like, at least from what I have been reading after seeing this. That is the same as St. Helen's. While that would suck if you are around there it wouldn't put us in a nuclear winter or anything.

I would be more worried about this being a trend or causing any major reactions for earthquakes.

[edit on 17-2-2010 by whoshotJR]

[edit on 17-2-2010 by whoshotJR]

Chaiten has been active for nearly 2 years now. Renewed seismic activity could just mean dome building at a faster rate, or Dome collapse.

As for the seablogger website...Alan (I believe thats his name) Loves to scaremonger on how bad Chaiten might get, yet there are far more dangerous volcanoes elsewhere on this planet.